What is meant by the ‘projected’ agreed player list for RPDCs and how does this impact selection to become a RPDC and the subsidy that may be available if successful?

There will be two versions of the agreed player list. One will be ‘projected’ and one will be ‘actual’. You will submit the ‘projected’ player list when you submit your application by 26 February 2018. This will include all the players in your programme that have been selected for Regional Training or the National Age Group programme (NAGP) since the 1 January 2018. This list will be used to evaluate your submission and inform the decision making process (including meeting the minimum number of 10 players expected from any application).

If you are chosen to become a RPDC, you will be required to submit an ‘actual’ player list on 31 July 2018. This player list will be used to calculate the level of variable player funding you will receive in 2018/19 to reduce the cost of the programme for players who are on the Player Pathway.

Please note, we will be updating the way that we deliver and select for Regional Training as part of our new strategy. This will be introduced from 1 April 2018. This is likely to reduce the number of players on your ‘actual’ player list which would impact the number of players you receive a subsidy for.

How will Regional Training change from its current format?

In line with the Performance Strategy, the objective of Regional Training will be to develop an oversupply of players fulfilling the selection criteria for the National Age Group Programme and National Academies. Therefore, the number of players in Regional Training will reduce as we focus on those who are showing the most potential to progress, the intensity of training will increase and (in some regions) the frequency of training will also go up.

We are developing the Regional Training Selection Criteria & Policy and we will publish this soon. This will be applied for the first time in the 2018 summer term (all selections from 1 April 2018).

Will my funding be affected if my RPDC 'projected' player list reduces between the February submission and the ‘actual’ RPDC player list in July due to the changes to Regional Training player selection coming into place from 1 April 2018?

Irrespective of your player list, if you are successful in being awarded RPDC status you will receive £25,000 per-year to invest in your Head Coach and a minimum of £20,000 in variable player funding (to be applied as direct player subsidies). What may change is the number of players on your player list that you receive direct subsidies for, and this is likely to reduce in line with the changes to Regional Training (outlined above) that will be introduced later in the year. If players are on your player list in February 2018 but not in July 2018, those players can still be part of your programme but you won’t receive an LTA subsidy for them.

What if players can’t afford the subsidised cost to train at a Regional Player Development Centre?

We are aware that some players may currently receive a 100% subsidy towards the cost of their programme but the maximum subsidy available through the RPDC model is £3,000. If a player is unable to afford the cost of the programme, the RPDC may still discount the costs further through their own channels; it is only the use of LTA funds which is capped. In addition, the LTA will continue to invest in Tennis First (who amongst other things award grants based on financial circumstances) to ensure that players who have can apply for additional support through an independent charity.

Should I include access players on my RPDC player list?

Yes, if they are going to access the programme for a minimum of 2 nights per week. Please identify which players will be full time in the programme and which will be access on the RPDC player template.

Will there be access players at RPDCs and will they be eligible for the subsidy?

Yes, players will be able to access RPDCs without being full time members of the programme. This is to try and ensure players aged 10-14 are able to access the right volume and frequency of high quality group training for their age and stage. To be eligible to apply a subsidy, players must be accessing the RPDC a minimum of twice per week.

How exactly will the cost of attending a Regional Player Development Centre be calculated?

Each RPDC will set a base cost which includes the cost of squad coaching, strength and conditioning, court costs and tournament attendance. This cost will be agreed between the RPDC and the LTA as part of the investment process.

Once this is approved, each RPDC will apply a subsidy to the agreed base cost, based on the stage of the pathway the player has been selected for (£3,000 for NAGP players and £1,000 for Regional Training players). This will give the total cost per player. This can be reflected in the following equation:

Are RPDCs and Regional Training the same thing?

No. RPDCs will provide a day to day training environment and coaching. Regional Training will be an opportunity to bring selected players in the region together and will be centrally run by the LTA Regional Team.

Why isn't each RPDC able to set the level of subsidy that they can apply to each player?

The LTA has set the level of subsidy to ensure consistent and transparent use of LTA funds so all parties know and understand what the LTA invest in each RPDC player on an annual basis. Each RPDC is able to invest their own funds in addition should they choose to do so.

What is the maximum number of players allowed at an RPDC?

There is no maximum limit to the number of subsidised players at an RPDC. However, we would expect a player to coach ratio of 4:1 if subsidised players are involved. This will be monitored through case management and formal RPDC reviews to ensure the quality of coaching delivery.

What happens if a player is selected for Regional Training or the National Age Group Programme after the player list is submitted in July 2018?

Player lists will have the flexibility to be updated termly (in line with Regional Training player selections). If a player is added, then they will be eligible for a pro-rata subsidy and this will be added to the quarterly payments.

Why aren't individual lessons included in the base cost for RPDC?

Individual lessons remain a core element of a player’s development programme. However, the RPDC programme is designed to provide the appropriate weekly volume and frequency of squad training for the age and stage of the player. That is why our investment is ring-fenced for that purpose. Any individual lessons that take place should be agreed with the Head Coach and be a part of the individual's player development plan and will need to be funded by the parent or the programme.

Can the RPDC nominate any players to be eligible for the subsidy who aren't selected for Regional Training or the National Age Group Programme?

No. Given the breadth of our investment (which includes all players selected for Regional Training) we believe that we are offering a subsidy to the players showing the highest potential to reach the next stage of the pathway. If the operator of an RPDC chooses to offer a subsidy to a player outside of our investment then that is a decision for the operator’s leadership.